Finger ring protector



E, 5 1954 A. H. STAROLJS 2,665,042

FINGER RING PROTECTOR IN V EN TOR.

l ATTORNEYS AGATHA H. STAPous Patented Jan. 5, 1954 UNITED STAT PATENTOFFICE FINGER RING PROTECTOR Agatha H. Starolis, San Francisco, Calif.

Application October 30, 1951, Serial No. 253,920

3 Claims. 1

The present invention relates to improvements in a finger ringprotector. It consists of the combinations, constructions, andarrangement of parts, as hereinafter described and claimed.

It is a well-known fact that many people, when washing their hands, orperforming arduous tasks, remove their finger rings in order to precludethe latter from becoming soiled or abraded. This often leads to therings being misplaced, and, indeed, often lost.

Accordingly, the cardinal object of this invention is to provide afinger ring protector, which may be secured to an individual, forinstance around the wrist or neck, to which the ring may be removablyattached. Thus, in the event that a person forgets about the ring, forexample after washing the hands, the ring will not be left hehind.

Moreover, the ring protector may be worn by a person, such as a factoryemployee, while working for a considerable length of time. It affordsprotection against misplacement, or insecurity, of leaving finger ringsin a pocket, or a pocketbook, especially when the latter is left out ofsight of the owner. It provides security for the rings of factoryworkers, waitresses, travellers, etc. Many other uses for my finger ringprotector will be pointed out as the specification proceeds.

Other objects and advantages will be mentioned in detail, and the novelfeatures of the invention will be set forth in the claims hereuntoappended.

Drawings For a better understanding of my invention, reference should behad to the accompanying drawing, forming part of this application, inwhich:

Figure 1 is an enlarged elevational View of my finger ring protector indetached position;

Figure 2 is a similar View, with the flexible securing member formedinto a loop, and further showing a finger ring supported on a hook ofthe protector; and

Figure 3 is a fragmentary view, which corresponds to a portion of Figure2, but disclosing the parts arranged to guard against accidentaldisplacement of the finger ring from the supporting hook.

While I have shown only the preferred form of my invention, it should beunderstood that various changes, or modifications, may be made withinthe scope of the annexed claims without departing from the spiritthereof.

Detailed description Referring now to the drawing, it will be noted thatmy finger ring protector includes three principal parts, namely: a hookA, flexible securing member B, and a jump or round ring or clasp C.These parts will be set forth in detail.

In its structural features, the hook A is made of resilient orspring-like material and defines a pair of coacting legs It and H, whichare interconnected at their bottoms by a yielding loop I2. The legs haveintermediate portions 13a and I la, respectively, arranged adjacent eachother, which may be spread apart due to the resilient or spring-likecharacter of the material from which the hook is fashioned.

As clearly shown, an upper catch section lilb of the leg ii) is free,and projects upwardly and outwardly at an inclined angle relative to anupper end section lib of the other leg to form a catch A. Thus, adownwardly-converging throat I 4 is defined between these two uppersections for the purpose hereinafter mentioned. The free tip end of theend Mb is provided with a ball or protrusion 55 thereon, which isdisposed at a predetermined distance from the upper section lib of theleg H. Furthermore, the lower section We of the leg it is bulgedoutwardly to a preselected extent and merges into the loop I2 of thehook.

For the purpose of illustration, the flexible securing member B has beendisclosed as being formed from a chain. It will be appreciated, ofcourse, that a large variety of materials and styles may be resorted toinsofar as this member is concerned. The length of the member B mayvary, as suggested by the break lines [6 in Figures 1 and 2. In certaincases, this member should have a length to encircle a persons wrist,while in other situations the member should extend around a personsneck.

It will be seen that the securing member B has one end thereofattachedat I? to the upper section ill) of the hook leg H, While the jump orround ring 0 is connected to the opposite end of this securing member.The jump ring has an opening is of sufficiently large diameter forallowing this ring to be introduced over the ball i5, and then advancedalong the legs it and ii in succession until the jump ring encircles these curing member B, thereby forming a loop B in the latter, as suggestedin Figure 2 of the drawing. This loop may encircle a persons wrist orneck.

Assuming that a person desires to protect a finger ring D against beingmisplaced or lost, a peripheral section thereof may be inserted readily3 into the throat I4, and then this ring pushed downwardly, with theball 15 and the leg l passing upwardly through the opening I! of thefinger ring. Quite obviously, the adjacent intermediate portions lflaand I la of the hook may be spread apart until the finger ring issupported on the hook loop I 2, as shown in Figure 2. Of course, theportions Illa and Ha will snap back toward one another as soon as thering D moves downwardly into the looped bottom of the hook.

With the parts now arranged in the manner shown in Figure 2, the uppercatch section I0?) is depressed under some pressure toward the uppersection lib of the attached leg. Now the jump or round ring is loweredover the upper sections of both legs in encircling relation therewith toprovide a clasp therearound, as clearly shown in Figure 3. Upon releaseof pressure on the ball l5, the catch section Illb will springoutwardly, preventing the jump ring from slipping upwardly over the ballIS. The latter coacts with the section l0b in forming a shoulder 20 toresist the jump or round ring from being pulled in an upward directionover the catch.

Particular attention is called to the fact that the bulged section lllcis separated from the lower section llc of the leg H at a distancegreater than the internal diameter of the jump or round ring C, wherebythis ring will be limited in slipping downwardly when the ring Cencircles the two legs of the hook, thereby preventing the jump or roundring from sliding accidentally oiT the hook.

In the event that the jump or round ring C should become unfastened fromthe catch section lllb, it will pass over the flexible securing memberB, and the wearers attention will be attracted by a slight tug or pull.This will be especially true when a finger ring is carried by the hook,since its weight will cause this ring and the hook to gravitatedownwardly, resulting in pulling the securing member B through the jumpor round ring.

t will be appreciated that the protector may be made from preciousmetal, or otherwise. For providing the securing member B, chains ofdifferent widths may be employed, and other parts made to produce abalanced and attractive article. When the member B forms a neck-chain,the protector may be worn under the clothing, affording concealment ofvaluable finger rings. Moreover, these neck-chains may be wrapped aroundthe wearers wrist, or shorter chains provided for encircling the wristsof the wearer with comfort.

Of the many individuals for which the finger ring protectors aredesigned, I wish to mention the following by way of example: factoryworkers, waitresses, counter girls, nurses, oilice workers, travellers,housewives and club women. Obviously, I do not desire to be limited inthis respect.

The protector not only serves to guard against misplacernent and loss offinger rings, but af' fords security on persons, such as factoryworkers, when finger rings while being worn are a hazard of safetyregulations and precautions. It affords security to travellers whoprefer their valuable finger rings to be on their person, rather thanplaced in a pocketbook or some other receptacle used during travelling.This is especially true while the travellers are sleeping aboard trainsand other means of transportation. The hook could be made Wide enough tohave the owners name displayed thereon.

I claim:

1. In a finger ring protector of the character described: a resilienthook defining a pair of coacting legs, which are interconnected by aloop; these legs having intermediate portions arranged adjacent to eachother, which may be spread apart; an elongated flexible securing memberhaving one end attached to an upper section of one of the legs; theupper section of the other leg being free, and projecting outwardlyrelative to the attached leg to form a catch; the hook being made tosupport a finger ring, or the like; and a clasp connected to theopposite end of the securing member; the clasp having an opening thereinsufficiently large for allowing this clasp to be introduced over thecatch, and then advanced along the legs in succession until the claspencircles the securing member, thereby forming a loop in the latter; thecatch being made to be depressed under pressure toward the upper sectionof the attached leg, and into a position in which the clasp may belowered over the upper sections of both legs in encircling relationtherewith to preclude accidental removal of the finger ring; the freeend of the catch section being spaced laterally from the upper sectionof the attached leg by a distance exceeding the greatest width of theopening in the clasp so as to normally prevent accidental slippage ofthe clasp upwardly over the catch.

2. In a finger ring protector of the character described: a resilienthook defining a pair of coacting legs, which are interconnected by aloop; these legs having intermediate portions arranged adjacent to eachother, which may be spread apart; an elongated flexible securing memberhaving one end attached to an upper section of one of the legs; theupper section of the other leg being free, and projecting outwardlyrelative to the attached leg to form a catch; the hook being made tosupport a finger ring, Or the like; and a clasp connected to theopposite end of the securing member; the clasp having an opening thereinsurficiently large for allowing this clasp to be introduced over thecatch, and then advanced along the legs in succession until the claspencircles the securing member, thereby forming a loop in the latter; thecatch being made to be depressed under pressure toward the upper sectionof the attached leg, and into a position in which the clasp may belowered over the upper sections of both legs in encircling relationtherewith to preclude accidental removal of the finger ring; the freeend of the catch section being spaced laterally from the upper sectionof the attached leg by a distance exceeding the greatest width of theopening in the clasp so as to normally prevent accidental slippage ofthe clasp upwardly over the catch; the free tip end of the catch sectionhaving a protrusion thereon coacting with the catch section to form ashoulder disposed to be engaged by the clasp to resist the latter frombeing pulled upwardly over the catch.

3. In a finger ring protector or the character described: a resilienthook defining a pair of coacting legs, which are interconnected by aloop; these legs having intermediate portions arranged adjacent to eachother, which may b spread apart; an elongated flexible securing memberhaving one end attached to an upper section of one of the legs; theupper section of the other leg being free, and projecting outwardlyrelative to the attached leg to form a catch; the hook being made tosupport a finger ring, or the like; and a clasp connected to theopposite end of the securing member; the clasp having an opening thereinsuificiently large for allowing this clasp to be introduced over thecatch, and then advanced along the legs in succession until the claspencircles the securing member, thereby forming a loop in the latter; thecatch being made to be depressed under pressure toward the upper sectionof the attached leg, and into a position in which the clasp may belowered over the upper sections of both legs in encircling relationtherewith to preclude accidental removal of the finger ring; the freeend of the catch section being spaced laterally from the upper sectionof the attached leg by a distance exceeding the greatest Width of theopening in the clasp so as to normally prevent accidental slippage ofReferences Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS NumberName Date 1,194,809 Bigney Aug. 15, 1916 1,989,000 Dittman Jan. 22, 1935Dittman Jan. 22, 1935

